Right-hander Jordan Lyles will start against the Diamondbacks in Wednesday’s Cactus League opener at Salt River Fields.

The full pitching schedule has not been released yet, but right-hander Jhoulys Chacin is scheduled to start on Thursday against the D-backs, newly acquired righty Kyle Kendrick on Friday vs. the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium, and lefty Jorge De La Rosa on Saturday at Salt River Field vs. the Cubs.

Scottsdale, Ariz. — Watch Troy Tulowitzki on the baseball diamond during the carefree days of spring training and you realize that he’s still a kid at heart.

So it makes sense that Tulo would reach out to ailing kids to lift their spirits and induce some smiles.

Tulo is underwriting an all-expense paid trip to spring training for more than 20 patients from Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. The group will visit spring training from March 6-8, the hospital announced in a press release.

“I have done it for the past couple of years,” Tulowitzki said. “It’s a chance to get them out here for a little mini-vacation. We give them a chance to meet some of the players. It’s a good little getaway.

“They are going through some difficult things and spending a lot of time at the hospital. … I’m looking forward to it.”

For many of the young patients, it will be the first trip away from home without their parents. Doctors and nurses will also be on the trip, but mostly it’s a much-needed getaway and a break from the hospital.

During the regular season, Tulo will see some of the kids at Coors Field.

“Some of them will be at the games and they will say hi and I try to remember their faces,” he said. “I remember them talking about how much fun they had at the hotel and playing at the pool. Like I said, it’s a chance for them to get away.”

Tulowitzki admits he often puts on a serious game face, but he lets his guard down around the kids.

“It’s because I like interacting with kids,” Tulo said. “I think people who know me, know that I can be pretty serious in the clubhouse, but you bring a kid around and I’m probably a different guy. I think I have the patience and I enjoy being around them.”

The Rockies are counting on catcher Wilin Rosario to be able to play some first base in 2015.(John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Scottsdale, Ariz. – There’s a lot riding on Wilin Rosario’s conversion into a part-time first baseman, because Rockies manager Walt Weiss made it clear Thursday that the club won’t carry three pure catchers on its 25-man roster.

“I don’t think it can be strictly three catchers,” Weiss said. “Somebody is going to have to be more versatile than just a catcher. I don’t envision carrying three catchers only.

“Obviously, you are talking about Wilin at first base. I think he’s going to be very serviceable over there and the more things he can do, the better it is for us.”

Rockies left-hander Tyler Anderson, a former first-round draft choice, is a limited participant in spring training because of a stress fracture in his elbow. (Chrstian Petersen, Getty Images)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — For Tom Petty, the waiting is the hardest part.

Ditto for Rockies pitching prospect Tyler Anderson.

The injured left-hander starter, so good last season at Double-A Tulsa and on the cusp of making a leap to the majors, is still not throwing the baseball — no bullpen sessions, no long toss, no short toss.

“If it was up to me, I’d throw right now, but I have to be smart,” he said. “We want to takes it extra slow and make sure it never happens again.”

“It” is the stress fracture in his left elbow. It first flared up when the 6-foot-4 southpaw was pitching for High-A Modesto (Calif.) in 2013. He recovered and took a giant step forward for Double-A Tulsa in 2014 when he was named a Texas League all-star and the league’s pitcher of the year. Anderson went 7-4 with a 1.98 ERA, 40 walks and 106 strikeouts in 23 starts. He was 4-1 with a 1.01 ERA in 11 starts after the all-star break. His season ended during the playoffs when pain returned to his elbow.

Jairo Diaz: At 6-feet, 248 pounds, he looks more like Broncos linebacker Von Miller than a relief pitcher from Venezuela. Diaz looks imposing and his sizzling 95-97 mph fastball adds to presence.

The 23-year-old was acquired from the Angels in an off-season trade for infielder Josh Rutledge. Diaz — who converted from catcher because he couldn’t hit — made just five big-league appearances in 2014, but struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out more than 13 batters per nine innings with a 2.20 ERA at Double-A Arkansas in 2014.

When Diaz got the unexpected call-up from the Angels late last summer, Diaz cried.

“I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

He fits the power profile that GM Jeff Bridich and manager Walt Weiss want in their bullpen.

The Rockies on Tuesday announced the 24 non-roster players receiving invitations to this year’s major-league spring training camp. Nick Groke has the details.

There are some intriguing names on the list.

Start with hard-throwing right-handed reliever John Axford. The former Milwaukee Brewers and Cleveland Indians closer can earn a $2.6 million base salary if he makes the major-league roster, and he can make an additional $1.5 million in incentives. The Rockies could really use him in their bullpen. He strikes out plenty of hitters, but he’s also been walking too many.

Top prospect Jon Gray gets his second invite to camp. The big right-hander’s mission this spring is to hone his talents and show more consistency. Can he make the 25-man roster out of camp? It’s possible, but I wouldn’t bet on it. I would expect him to make his major-league debut this season. We’ll see.

Colorado Rockies pitcher Yohan Flande throws in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals June 25, 2014 at Coors Field. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

The Rockies invited 24 players not already on their roster to spring training camp starting next week. They include some big questions about the makeup of the pitching staff to start the 2015 season.

Jon Gray, who pitched exclusively for Double-A Tulsa last season, will compete for a roster spot alongside Eddie Butler, his Drillers teammate last season. Butler made the jump to the big leagues for three games. To start spring, though, both are on the outside looking in at a Rockies rotation that currently pencils in as Jorge De La Rosa, Jhoulys Chacin, Tyler Matzek, Jordan Lyles and Kyle Kendrick.

But will the young pitchers show well enough to crack the Rockies’ roster out of spring? Can newly-acquired David Hale make a move to a starting spot? Did a spot starter last season carve out a spot for himself?

It won’t be long before Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado will be swinging his bat during spring training. (Rob Tringali, Getty Images)

Cleaning out my Rockies notebook as I start prepping for spring training. I head to Scottsdale on Feb. 18.

As I noted in my Sunday column, the Rockies were historically bad on the road last season, winning just 21 games.

But this I didn’t realize: Of the Rockies’ 21 road victories, eight of them came in April when the Rockies went 16-13 overall and 8-9 on the road. That means that between May and September, the Rockies went 13-51 on the road. Thanks to Rox fan Robby Laitos for pointing out that statistic.

I talked to manager Walt Weiss about his club’s road woes the other day. He knows the Rockies absolutely have to play better away from Coors Field. How will they attempt to do it? That’s something I’ll explore in-depth when I get to Scottsdale.

The Rockies open their 2015 Cactus League schedule on March 4 vs. Arizona at Salt River Fields.

It’s gray, gloomy and 34 degrees outside. But there is sunshine on the horizon. In a mere 98 days, in fact.

The Rockies released their Cactus League schedule Tuesday morning, announcing that the first game is scheduled for March 4 against the Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

Here is the full press release from the Rockies, including ticket information and the highlights of the spring training schedule:

The Colorado Rockies announced their 33-game 2015 Cactus League schedule today, which features 15 home dates and 16 games total, played at the Rockies Spring Training site in Scottsdale, Arizona, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. The 2015 Cactus League represents the fifth year for the Rockies at the shared Spring Training facility with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Colorado opens their Spring Training schedule as the host team against Arizona at Salt River Fields on March 4th. This will be the seventh consecutive season that the Rockies open up their Cactus League slate against the Diamondbacks and first time since 2012 as the home team.

SAN FRANCISCO — Troy Tulowitzki mimicked his swing and jogged the bases early Friday afternoon. There was improvement, but still tightness in his right quadriceps. As a result, he is not starting against the Giants, missing his second straight game.

“It feels much better. They asked and I said I feel a little something. They want to be cautious,” Tulowitzki said. “I expect to be out there on Saturday.”

Brandon Barnes of the Colorado Rockies hits a RBI single against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of the spring training game at Peoria Stadium on March 5, 2014 in Peoria, Ariz. (Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Outfielder Brandon Barnes finished off his impressive spring with a run-scoring single in the eighth to drive in Drew Stubbs and lift the Rockies to a 2-1 victory over the Mariners Saturday at Salt River Fields.

Stubbs hit a two-out double to get in scoring position.

The Rockies closed out their Cactus League season with a 14-14-4 record.

The only thing slowing down the speed of Saturday’s finale was starter Franklin Morales’ early lack of command.

The spring finale is the ultimate get-away game and players tend take a lot of early swings in an effort to move the game along. But Morales, the lefty named Friday as the Rockies’ fifth starter, walked five batters in his 5 1/3 innings, including two in a row to set up Kyle Seager’s run-scoring single in the second. But Morales settled down after that and finished with a decent outing, allowing one run on three hits.

PEORIA, Ariz. — The Rockies’ penultimate game of spring training was a double-barreled bummer.

Not only did they lose 3-2 to the Mariners in walkoff fashion Friday night, they also might have lost right-handed starter Tyler Chatwood to a hamstring injury. He was removed from the game in the top of the third with what the Rockies called “a slight strain and cramping in his left hamstring.”

The Rockies hope the injury is not serious. Chatwood will be reevaluated Saturday.

Jhoulys Chacin, the Rockies’ top right-handed starter, is throwing all of his pitches during bullpen sessions as he rehabs from a strained shoulder. (Denver Post file photo)

PEORIA, Ariz. — The Rockies have two more Cactus League games to get through, Friday night against the Mariners, then Saturday afternoon back at Salt River Fields, once more against the Mariners.

They’ll fly to Miami very early Sunday morning and then try shake off the jet lag to get ready for Monday night’s regular-season opener against the Marlins.

One important player will be left behind to toil in the desert: right-hander Jhoulys Chacin. But that’s not a bad thing. Chacin said Friday afternoon that his strained right shoulder is much, much better, putting him on track to rejoin the Rockies’ rotation in early May.

Ryan Braun was suspended last year for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal. (Jeffrey Phelps, Associated Press)

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Tired of drug cheats, players made their voices heard this spring. New union boss Tony Clark and the owners agreed to the first significant alteration of the drug policy since 2006, coming down harder on PED users.

Friday, MLB and the MLBPA officially announced increased drug penalties — 80 games (up from 50) for first offense, 162 games (up from 100) for second offense. A player suspended for PEDs at any point during the regular season is not eligible for the postseason or a postseason share. They were already ineligible to participate in the all-star game.

Players will not be paid for difference between 183-day season and 162-game schedule, fixing a loophole that permitted Alex Rodriguez to be paid a portion of his contract this season.

According to the press release, blood collections for hGH detection will increase to 400 random collections per year, in addition to the 1,200 mandatory collections conducted during spring training. Every player whose suspension for a performance-enhancing substance is upheld will be subject to six additional unannounced urine collections, and three additional unannounced blood collections, during every subsequent year of his entire career.

Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies celebrates his solo homerun against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Jordan Pacheco of the Colorado Rockies in the sixth inning at Coors Field on April 5, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Rockies continued to trim their roster Thursday, sending five players down to the minors as they near their 25-man opening-day roster.

The players optioned were catcher Mike McKenry and infielders Josh Rutledge and Ryan Wheeler. Outfielders Jason Pridie and Tim Wheeler, both non-roster invitees, were re-assigned to the minors.

A major-league source also said that utility infielder Paul Janish has been told he has not made the team.

What became clear after Thursday’s moves is that Jordan Pacheco is the backup catcher for Wilin Rosario, and Charlie Culberson will be the primary utility infielder. Pacheco could also be called on to play spot infield duty.

The primary reason for Rutledge’s demotion is that the club wants to make sure he gets plenty of playing time and at-bats. Manager Walt Weiss loves Rutledge’s athleticism, but wants to make sure Rutledge works out some kinks in his swing.

Rockies lefty Jorge De La Rosa dominated the Giants on Wednesday in his final spring tuneup before he starts opening day in Miami. (Chris Schneider, The Associated Press)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz — Um … hey … Jorge De La Rosa, you might want to save some of that stuff for the regular-season opener.

Colorado’s $11 million lefty pitched his final Cactus League game Wednesday against the Giants in an 8-6 Rockies loss. On a blustery day at Scottsdale Stadium, he blew the Giants away, striking out seven and allowing just three hits in six scoreless innings.

The Rockies lost when Hector Sanchez hit a two-run, wind-blown, walkoff homer off Rex Brothers.

The most important performance of the day came from De La Rosa, who will start the season opener Monday night in Miami against the Marlins.

“Everything I worked on the last five days was working,” De La Rosa said. “I got good results today.”

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.